The Scout Association of Malta
Encyclopedia
The Scout Association of Malta is the World Organization of the Scout Movement
recognised Scouting
association of the island nation of Malta
. Scouting in Malta began when 1st Sliema
Scout Troop was registered in 1908 as the second overseas troop to be part of The Scout Association
of the United Kingdom
. It was officially recognised a year later.
The Scout Association of Malta was created as an organisation in 1913, and was responsible for supervising Scouting activities on the island. However, it continued to remain a part of the United Kingdom's association as a member of the British Empire
until 1966. As of 2011, there were 2,936 members on the island.
The Scout Motto is Kun Lest, translating as Be Prepared in Maltese
. The membership badge of The Scout Association of Malta prominently features the Maltese eight-pointed cross
.
was conducted by Robert Baden-Powell
in August 1907. The 1st Sliema Scout Troop applied for recognition on November 9, 1908, and this was received a year later. At this time there were 338 Boy Scouts and 3 Scoutmasters listed as members of the Malta Boy Scouts Association.
The association was formerly registered as an Overseas Branch of The Boy Scouts Association on 15 September 1913.
The First World War had a significant impact on Scouting on Malta, since most of the Scoutmasters were also servicemen and were ordered to the front in Europe. Many of the Scouts also volunteered for duties as interpreters, coast watchers and messengers, as well as to serve in hospitals and other support establishments. By the end of 1915, there were 84 Scouts on war duty from the island, and only 105 Scouts and leaders on Malta. However, as the latter half of the war progressed, membership rose sharply, and the association's general meeting on 30 November 1917, reported 1,200 members with 28 Scout Troops on the island.
The Second World War saw similar service from the Maltese Scouts, as they supported the Allied forces throughout the aerial siege of 1940 to 1943. This resulted in the association and its members receiving a collective award of the Bronze Cross, "in recognition of their courage and devotion to duty in the face of continuous enemy action in the war for freedom".
The island of Malta became an independent state in 1964. In October 1966, It was decided at an extraordinary general meeting of the Malta Boy Scouts Association that it should remove itself from The Scout Association of the United Kingdom and seek direct membership of the World Scout Conference. The association was recognised as an independent organisation in December 1966, with Lady Olave Baden-Powell
, acting as the Vice-President of the World Bureau, presenting the certificate to the Chief Scout of Malta.
In 2007, the association inaugurated the Beaver section.
which currently has two of the Groups, Victoria Scout Group and Xaghra Scout Group.
There is a Chief Scout and an Island Headquarters of around 15 leaders and administrators.
The Scout programme is divided into sections based on age groups
, with Beavers
, Cub Scout
s, Scouts
, Venture Scout
s and Rover Scouts.
, was governor-general of the island in 1890-1893. Baden-Powell himself served as Assistant Military Secretary for his uncle during these years, and also as Intelligence Officer for the Mediterranean.
Baden-Powell would return many times to the island, including as part of his honeymoon with Lady Olave, and maintained a fondness for the island and the Maltese Scouters. Shortly before his death in 1940, Baden-Powell wrote in a final letter to the island's Scouts:
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
recognised Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
association of the island nation of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. Scouting in Malta began when 1st Sliema
Sliema
Tas-Sliema is a city located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Tas-Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Tas-Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing...
Scout Troop was registered in 1908 as the second overseas troop to be part of The Scout Association
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was officially recognised a year later.
The Scout Association of Malta was created as an organisation in 1913, and was responsible for supervising Scouting activities on the island. However, it continued to remain a part of the United Kingdom's association as a member of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
until 1966. As of 2011, there were 2,936 members on the island.
The Scout Motto is Kun Lest, translating as Be Prepared in Maltese
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
. The membership badge of The Scout Association of Malta prominently features the Maltese eight-pointed cross
Maltese cross
The Maltese cross, also known as the Amalfi cross, is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta and through them came to be identified with the Mediterranean island of Malta and is one of the National symbols of Malta...
.
History
Scouting appeared on the island of Malta very soon after the experimental scouting camp on Brownsea IslandBrownsea Island
Brownsea Island is the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour in the county of Dorset, England. The island is owned by the National Trust. Much of the island is open to the public and includes areas of woodland and heath with a wide variety of wildlife, together with cliff top views across Poole...
was conducted by Robert Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
in August 1907. The 1st Sliema Scout Troop applied for recognition on November 9, 1908, and this was received a year later. At this time there were 338 Boy Scouts and 3 Scoutmasters listed as members of the Malta Boy Scouts Association.
The association was formerly registered as an Overseas Branch of The Boy Scouts Association on 15 September 1913.
The First World War had a significant impact on Scouting on Malta, since most of the Scoutmasters were also servicemen and were ordered to the front in Europe. Many of the Scouts also volunteered for duties as interpreters, coast watchers and messengers, as well as to serve in hospitals and other support establishments. By the end of 1915, there were 84 Scouts on war duty from the island, and only 105 Scouts and leaders on Malta. However, as the latter half of the war progressed, membership rose sharply, and the association's general meeting on 30 November 1917, reported 1,200 members with 28 Scout Troops on the island.
The Second World War saw similar service from the Maltese Scouts, as they supported the Allied forces throughout the aerial siege of 1940 to 1943. This resulted in the association and its members receiving a collective award of the Bronze Cross, "in recognition of their courage and devotion to duty in the face of continuous enemy action in the war for freedom".
The island of Malta became an independent state in 1964. In October 1966, It was decided at an extraordinary general meeting of the Malta Boy Scouts Association that it should remove itself from The Scout Association of the United Kingdom and seek direct membership of the World Scout Conference. The association was recognised as an independent organisation in December 1966, with Lady Olave Baden-Powell
Olave Baden-Powell
Olave St Clair Baden-Powell, Baroness Baden-Powell, GBE was born Olave St Clair Soames in Chesterfield, England...
, acting as the Vice-President of the World Bureau, presenting the certificate to the Chief Scout of Malta.
In 2007, the association inaugurated the Beaver section.
Organisation
The Scout Association of Malta is currently divided into 4 Scout Districts, and a total of 40 Scout Groups, with 2,500 members as of December, 2001. The island of Malta itself comprises three of the Districts, with the fourth being the neighbouring island of GozoGozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
which currently has two of the Groups, Victoria Scout Group and Xaghra Scout Group.
There is a Chief Scout and an Island Headquarters of around 15 leaders and administrators.
The Scout programme is divided into sections based on age groups
Age groups in Scouting and Guiding
National Scouting and Guiding organisations are divided into different age groups in order to deliver the Scouting and Guiding programmes for a full range of youth.-History:...
, with Beavers
Beavers (Scouting)
Beavers in Scouting is one name for the youngest section of Scouting with members younger than Cub Scouts and sometimes going to as young as five years of age. Other names are used in some countries...
, Cub Scout
Cub Scout
A Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
s, Scouts
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
, Venture Scout
Venture Scout
Venture Scouting is a section of the Scout Movement, mostly in countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, for young people roughly in the 14 – 20 age range.-Australia:...
s and Rover Scouts.
Connections with Baden-Powell
As well as its claim to having the first official overseas Scouting organisation, Malta has other connections to the founder of Scouting. Robert Baden-Powell's uncle, Henry Augustus SmythHenry Augustus Smyth
Sir Henry Augustus Smyth , FSA, FRGS, Governor of Malta, general and colonel commandant Royal Artillery, born at St James's Street, London, on 25 November 1825, was third son in the family of three sons and six daughters of Admiral William Henry Smyth by his wife Annarella, only daughter of Thomas...
, was governor-general of the island in 1890-1893. Baden-Powell himself served as Assistant Military Secretary for his uncle during these years, and also as Intelligence Officer for the Mediterranean.
Baden-Powell would return many times to the island, including as part of his honeymoon with Lady Olave, and maintained a fondness for the island and the Maltese Scouters. Shortly before his death in 1940, Baden-Powell wrote in a final letter to the island's Scouts:
- to congratulate my old friends, the Maltese on the plucky way they have stood up to the infernal bombing of the Italians ... They have the spirit of fearlessness and patience which enables them to face danger with a smile to stick it out to the triumphant finish ...